ALTOONA -- The Burrell High School baseball team lost in the PIAA Class AA championship this morning, dropping a 8-3 decision to Loyalsock at Blair County Ballpark in Altoona.

Burrell (20-3), the WPIAL's No. 3 team in Class AA, fell behind, 4-1, after three innings and never recovered. Burrell starting pitcher Seth Napierkowski, who was the winner in Monday's semifinals, worked the first 4 1/3 innings and took the loss.

Loyalsock (22-4), located near Williamsport, took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second. Burrell managed only three hits in the first five innings off Loyalsock pitchers Colin Kelly and Alex Cillo, and trailed, 8-1, heading into the bottom of the seventh.

It was Burrell's second appearance in a PIAA championship - and both were losses. The Bucs lost to Phoenixville, 4-1, in 2001.